Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ鈥檚 afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Colossians 1:24-29, ESV)

Leading a Bible study is sometimes an energizing experience for me, while other times it can be a bit draining. Often, I don鈥檛 realize how much it has taken out of me until the study group session is over. Additionally, preparing to lead a study group takes time, prayer, and a lot of hard work. Sometimes, when I鈥檓 feeling a bit discouraged, I find myself asking 鈥淲hy do I put myself through this experience over and over again?鈥

Paul鈥檚 teaching was not just physically draining; it sometimes resulted in real suffering. He faced persecution, beatings, stonings, imprisonment鈥攁ll taking their toll on him鈥攜et he rejoiced in suffering for the sake of the church, the body of Christ. Here was a man who at one time had persecuted the church, causing it much suffering, but God in His grace forgave him, making Paul a minister of the church, an apostle to the Gentiles. He had experienced God鈥檚 grace personally, and was amazed at how that same grace reached into the lives of Gentile believers, uniting them with Christ. He rejoiced in his sufferings for their sake, seeing even more of the glory of God in His saving grace toward them.

Paul鈥檚 motivation for his teaching ministry centered around the Christ鈥檚 greatness and His indwelling work within believers. He proclaimed the gospel of Christ, which carries a combination of bad news about God鈥檚 judgment on sin (鈥渨arning everyone鈥), and good news (鈥渢eaching everyone with all wisdom鈥), that God can use to transform them through their union with Christ (鈥淐hrist in you, the hope of glory鈥). It is this confidence in the power of the gospel to bring about reconciliation with God and transformation into Christ鈥檚 image that drives Paul.

Part of why Paul wrote this letter to the church in Colossae was to warn them of the danger of false teachers, people who would make spiritual growth and maturity something exclusive that only a few people could ever hope to attain. Paul knew better, understanding that with 鈥淐hrist in us,鈥 everyone can grow in maturity 鈥 into Christ鈥檚 likeness as God works within us. 鈥淐hrist in you, the hope of glory鈥 is the grounding of hope we all have for growth. It is God鈥檚 work in us, through the Holy Spirit, that gives us hope of transformation, of being mature in Christ. Paul teaches because he wants to help present everyone, not just some 鈥渆lite disciples,鈥 mature in Christ. He knows this is possible because of God鈥檚 gracious and powerful work within himself, and in all who come to faith in Christ, Jew and Gentile. He desires this fruit of maturity in Christ so strongly, that he is willing to 鈥渢oil鈥 (think hard, ongoing, unrelenting labor) with all the energy God gives him as He powerfully works within Paul. I have much to learn here from Paul. I suspect that much of the time, I鈥檓 鈥渢oiling鈥 with all the energy I can muster up myself, rather than drawing on the energy God desires to give me.

Why do you teach? Do you recognize the work God is doing in the lives of those you teach, and is your hope grounded in His power to bring about greater maturity in Christ? The power for transformation is Christ in them. If you have been focusing on lesser goals, ask God to help you regain His vision for what He wants to do through you.

What energizes you as you teach? Do you draw on God鈥檚 strength through the Holy Spirit to help you through the hard work of preparing and teaching? Do you sense His presence and strength sustaining you as you 鈥渢oil?鈥 If you have been trying to do everything in your own strength, ask God to be your strength for all He calls you to do, including your teaching. He can and will sustain you.

Father, thank you for taking someone like Paul, a persecutor of your church, and using him to spread the good news of the gospel of Christ, and to teach to help others grow in maturity in Christ. Thank you for sustaining him through all he suffered for the sake of your gospel. I pray that you would help me pursue these same goals in my teaching, and that you would be my strength, renewing me as the challenges of teaching wear me down. Be my source of comfort, strength, and insight as I seek to help others respond to your transforming work within them. Amen.

This devotional is one of fifty-two from a collection, 鈥淔eeding the Soul of the Bible Study Leader.鈥 If you would like to read more or share them with a friend, you can access them online at and they are also available in book form through Amazon.com.